Eligibility Requirements

Entry to both the Patriot All-America and The Thunderbolt is by invitation only.

Invitations will be issued on a tiered level basis; collegiate player must be currently enrolled in school and part of a University team to be eligible. Those that meet the eligibility requirements but cannot participate in the Patriot because the field is full, will be invited to compete in the Thunderbolt.

a) Finished in the top 5 of last year’s Patriot All-America and top 3 of the Thunderbolt

b) 2023 collegiate golfers named to PING or WGCA All-America teams: Divisions I, II and III, NAIA, and NJCAA

c) 2023 First-Team AJGA All-America currently enrolled as freshmen in GCAA member institutions

d) Invited members of U.S. Service Academy Golf Teams

e) 2023 members of GCAA Palmer Cup Team

f) Winners of the Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Phil Mickelson awards

g) Champions of the US Amateur, British Amateur, Asia-Pacific Amateur, Latin America Amateur Championship, European Amateur, and the Japan Collegiate Championship, as well as The R&A Student Tour Series Order of Merit winner and special invitations.

h) Special invitations

All invitations will be issued through the Golf Coaches Association of America